Redskins score 24 unanswered points to beat Raiders

Oakland, CA – The Redskins converted two Matt Flynn turnovers into touchdowns and scored 24 unanswered points on Sunday to beat the Raiders 24-14 for their first win of the season.

David Amerson returned an interception 45 yards for a touchdown and Roy Helu, filling in for an injured Alfred Morris, scored on a 14-yard run after Flynn fumbled in the fourth quarter.

Robert Griffin III threw for 227 yards, including a 5-yard touchdown pass to Pierre Garcon, and Washington (1-3) avoided its first 0-4 start since 2001 as it heads into a bye week.

"We knew we had to come out of here 1-3 and we have to make the best of our situation. We have to get on a winning streak to get back to where we want to be," said Griffin.

Flynn started for Terrelle Pryor, who was cleared to practice Thursday after suffering a concussion last Monday night against the Broncos but reportedly experienced a return of his concussion symptoms Saturday.

Flynn passed for 227 yards and threw an 18-yard touchdown strike to Mychal Rivera that gave the Raiders (1-3) a 14-0 lead in the first quarter.

Jeremy Stewart recovered a blocked punt in the end zone for Oakland's first touchdown but the Raiders went scoreless in the last three quarters.

Both teams lost their starting running back. Oakland's Darren McFadden left with a hamstring injury in the second quarter and Morris went out with a rib injury in the third. Raiders fullback Marcel Reece also left with a knee injury.

"That one hurt. That one stung," said Raiders coach Dennis Allen. "We had all the momentum and we let them back in the game."

Rashad Jennings blocked the punt that was recovered for a touchdown and took over after McFadden was injured, running for 45 yards on 15 carries for the Raiders.

Griffin was 18-for-31, good enough, and finished without an interception for the first time this season. He had four picks in the first three games after throwing five all of last season.

The Redskins sacked Flynn seven times -- Brian Orakpo, Ryan Kerrigan and Barry Cofield had two each -- but the Raiders backup still completed 21 of his 32 passes.

Redskins coach Mike Shanahan talked up his defense after the game.

"That's a heck of a job anytime you have seven sacks in the National Football League and return an interception for a touchdown," Shanahan said. "That's what you gotta do to win. We played for 60 minutes."

Washington took a 17-14 lead on Garcon's 5-yard touchdown catch with 2:58 left in the third quarter to cap a 58-yard drive.

In the fourth, Kerrigan sacked Flynn to force a fumble and Cofield recovered at the Oakland 42.

Helu hurdled an Oakland defender on a 28-yard catch and then scored on a 14- yard run on the next play to give the Redskins their 24-14 lead.

Earlier, Jennings blocked Sav Rocca in the end zone in the first quarter and Stewart recovered it on a bounce for a 7-0 Raiders lead.

They went up 14-0 after Flynn connected with Rivera on an 18-yard touchdown to cap an 81-yard drive that also included a 34-yard catch by Denarius Moore.

John Potter kicked a 25-yard field goal for the Redskins in the first minute of the second quarter and Amerson's 45-yard interception return on the ensuing Raiders possession got the Redskins within 14-10.

Redskins tight end Logan Paulsen fumbled trying to stretch a 33-yard catch in the third quarter but the Raiders couldn't capitalize. Sebastian Janikowski missed a 52-yard field goal try from the infield dirt wide-left.

Game Notes

McFadden had 29 yards on five carries and Morris rushed for 71 on 16 carries ... Darryl Tapp had the other Redskins sack ... After a bye, the Redskins will play the Cowboys in Dallas on Oct. 13 ... The Raiders are at home vs. the Chargers next week ... The Redskins went 0-5 in 2001.